Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) & Medication Disposal Sites

If not disposed of properly, prescription and over-the-counter medications pose a hazard to our environment and increases the chances of getting into the hands of children or others who may abuse the drugs.

Residents are encouraged to gather unused, expired, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications and dispose of them properly by using dedicated disposal sites.

These disposal sites offer a free, safe and convenient way of proper disposal. You can go to any of these sites, dispose of the medications, and there are no questions asked.

Through the Erie County Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP), the Erie County Department of Health, along with representatives from the fields of Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, business, sanitation, law enforcement, pharmacy, spiritual, government, medicine and lay persons, created a partnership to safely dispose of used needles, syringes & lancets free of charge.

Disposal is a very convenient and safe way to properly dispose of these items. Disposal kiosks are found in many pharmacies, police agencies, Community Based Organizations and Diabetes Specialty Care locations.

Persons who are age 18 years or older may legally obtain and possess hypodermic needles & syringes through ESAP without a medical prescription.

Licensed pharmacies, health care facilities, and health care practitioners who can otherwise prescribe hypodermic needles or syringes may register with the New York State Department of Health to sell or furnish up to 10 hypodermic needles or syringes to persons 18 years of age or older.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is a distribution site for limited free medical supplies, such as syringes, band aids, cotton, alcohol wipes, etc. for Erie County residents.